The objective of FAST-Lab. is the seamless knowledge integration of humans and machines/robots creating smart environments by capitalising the advances on Information and Communication Technologies.
Research focus and goals
FAST-Lab. does research in Automation, Industrial Informatics, Industrial Cyberphysical Systems, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. The main application domains for our research are Factory Automation, Healthcare Automation and Smart Mobility building the future Smart Factories, Smart Healthcare and Smart Cities. (Publications included in TUTCRIS by Prof. Jose L. Martinez Lastra and Publications included in Google Scholar by Prof. Jose L. Martinez Lastra.)
FAST-Lab. has been participating in 27 European research projects during the past years. FAST-Lab. is currently participating as one of the partners in the following eight research projects:
Optimising Production and Logistic Resources in the Time-critical Bio Production Industries in Europe (CLARUS), a three-year project in 2022-2025, funded by the EUs Horizon Europe programme. With the exponential growth of the global human population and the resulting shortage of resources and harsh environmental conditions, numerous sustainability concerns have been brought upon the industrial sectors. The Food Industry is one of the main contenders affected by the resources shortages, requiring a stable long-term vision to manage sustainability. The need to guide the sector toward a Green Transition is pushed by a strong emphasis on improving the environmental and social sustainability of its activities, products, and processes, leveraging also on Digital Transition.
See our CLARUS project web page for more information
Fostering and Enabling AI, Data and Robotics Technologies for Supporting Human Workers in Harvesting Wild Food (FEROX), a three-year project in 2022-2025, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme. Nature’s gift to the Nordic region, Wild berries and Mushrooms, are a vital source of food that only requires labour for harvesting. Cultivated by nature, the harvesting of these vitamin-enriched food sources is deeply rooted in the cultures and traditions of the Nordic folk. But, even with the traditions, only 1 in 10 berries of the harvest are being picked for consumption every year. And one of the main reasons for this can be cited as the short duration of the season and the thick forest covering that hides the harvest from the view of the berry pickers. FEROX aims to introduce AI, Data, and Robotics Advancements as a helping hand for the pickers to improve their working conditions.
See our FEROX project web page for more information.
AI Driven industrial Equipment product life cycle boosting Agility, Sustainability and Resilience (AIDEAS), a three-year project in 2022-2025, funded by the EUs Horizon Europe programme. Industrial equipment and machinery manufacturing forms the foundation of the EU's industrial sector, employing approximately 3 million individuals and serving as a crucial supplier to various related industries. To maintain its competitive advantage, the field of industrial manufacturing necessitates comprehensive solutions that encompass the entire life cycle of industrial equipment. Addressing this need, the AIDEAS project is currently engaged in the development of a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to support this endeavor. The project’s primary focus revolves around four key elements: design, manufacturing, utilization, and repair/reuse/recycling. In order to validate and refine these proposed solutions, four pilot programs have been established, involving manufacturers who provide industrial equipment to sectors such as metal, stone, plastics, and food. Through the AIDEAS project, the EU aims to enhance the capabilities of industrial manufacturing through cutting-edge AI applications and drive sustainable growth in the sector.
See our AIDEAS project web page for more information.
AI Powered human-centered Robot Interactions for Smart Manufacturing (AI-PRISM), a three-year project in 2022-2025, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme. AI-PRISM is an industrial-end-user-driven project that will provide a human-centered AI-based solutions ecosystem targeted to manufacturing scenarios with tasks difficult to automate and speed and versatility are essential. The result will be an integrated and scalable ecosystem with installation-specific solutions for semi-automated and collaborative manufacturing in flexible production processes and for which specific robotic programming skills will not be required, thanks to its programming-by-demonstration modules.
See our AI-PRISM project web page for more information.
Smart grading, handling, and packaging solutions for soft and deformable products in agile and reconfigurable lines(AGILEHAND) a three-year project in 2022-2025 funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme, is a groundbreaking project focused on revolutionizing workpiece handling systems. It aims to develop innovative solutions for three key aspects: fine grading of delicate and perishable products, seamless handling of diverse and deformable objects, and implementing agility, flexibility, and reconfigurability in production lines. By leveraging advanced technologies and AI-based systems, AGILEHAND ensures cost-effective, accurate, and fast grading, enables efficient handling of soft products, and facilitates agile production line reconfiguration for optimal customer response time and resource utilization. This project promises to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity in manufacturing processes, setting new standards in the industry.
See our AGILEHAND project web page for more information.
Multi-Modal and Multi-Aspect Holistic Human-Robot Interaction (FORTIS), a three-year project in 2024-2027, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme. FORTIS focuses on delivering a comprehensive Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) solution with multi-modal communication and multi-aspect interaction to foster efficient and safe collaboration between humans and robots. By leveraging advanced technology, it aims to address challenges posed by an aging workforce in the EU, improving employment, working conditions, and welfare. The project includes three main pilots in construction, infrastructure services, and manufacturing, covering five use cases to showcase the solution's safety and effectiveness. Additionally, a portion of the budget will support civilian interaction pilots in settings like healthcare, public events, shopping centers, and grocery stores, enabling real-world evaluation of the HRI system.
See our FORTIS project web page for more information.
Agile Manufacturing as a Service through AI Autonomous Agents (MaaSAI), a three-year project in 2024-2027 funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme. The MaaSAI project will develop the MaaSAI System, a digital platform that automates and streamlines interactions between manufacturing system providers and consumers in a Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) ecosystem. By facilitating access to flexible, decentralized capacities, the system reduces traditional investment barriers. The MaaSAI System enables on-demand sustainable manufacturing, optimising resource utilisation, facilitating the transition towards circular facilities, and promoting better integration of the value chain. The incorporation of secure, and real-time data exchange between participating companies ensures fast response times and improves collaboration. The project will deliver three key results: 1) MaaSAI Cloud MaaS Marketplace, 2) MaaSAI Provider Suite, and 3) MaaSAI. The system will be tested in five European pilot sectors: metal machining, gears and mechanical power transmission, biomaterials, food processing, and electronics manufacturing.
See our MaaSAI project web page for more information
Transforming Pruning for Smallholder Agriculture with Enhanced Productivity and Working Conditions Using AR and Robotics (AgRimate), a five-year project in 2025-2030 funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme. AgRimate focuses on transforming pruning tasks for small-scale farmers using Augmented Reality (AR), Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It addresses the challenges and labor-intensive nature of pruning high-value crops like olive groves and vineyards with an innovative, scalable solution. This includes an AI module that learns from expert knowledge to solve pruning challenges and tools like a learning tool that adapts to the user’s knowledge and an AR solution providing real-time guidance. Integrated with robotic solutions, it supports users with exoskeletons or autonomously performs tasks. This approach enhances productivity, resource efficiency, and social inclusiveness while improving working conditions in agriculture.
See our AgRimate project web page for more information
